Abstract

A low-cost and low-maintenance digital focused shadowgraph flow visualization system has been developed to provide fast diagnostics of rapidly changing phenomena in supersonic flows. The system is particularly designed for tracking shock positions in a supersonic inlet, enabling high-speed active shock control. It is based on a low-cost, high-intensity white LED light source, which can be flashed with microsecond pulses enabling freeze-frame imaging of constant illumination quality. The system features three modes of operation: 1. High-resolution digital still frames and sequences (1280x1024, 2fps), 2. High-resolution digital frames and sequences showing spatial-temporal variation in flow field (1280x1024, 12 fps), 3. Adjustable windowed digital frames at reduced resolution, but at high frame rates (980 fps at 1280x8 pixel viewing area). The three modes of operation allow high-speed tracking of flow features such as moving of shock waves (up to 980 Hz) as well as overall instantaneous views of the flow. Furthermore, it allows direct identification of areas where high-speed changes occur. The positional shock data can be transmitted directly to a shock-stabilizing control system. Results are presented of the unsteady flow generated by an aspirated cone-shaped nozzle in a supersonic flow in the supersonic wind tunnel of the MIT Gas Turbine Laboratory.